"Humans and shifters are different," Sia replied.
"I feel you’re bullshitting me, Bru," I mumbled, fluttering my feathers.
Sia laughed. "You didn't know what a boyfriend was till I explained it to you. Now you want one at ten?" Sia asked.
"Hmm. Not ten, but not twenty either. Nineteen, Bru!" I suggested.
"One year difference, really? And it's not like you go to a boyfriend store and choose which phoenix familiar you want. Or any familiar, for that matter," Sia explained.
"Other? I can mate with other familiars that aren't my kind, Bru?"
"Yes, but it's a little complicated, and I'm tired." Sia brushed off the topic.
"Humans are weird," I commented, and she smiled, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
"Just focus on keeping Celestia company and achieving your goal for Aslan," Sia encouraged.
"Do you have a goal, Sia?" I asked, stretching my wings out and flying up to land on her shoulder. She lowered her hands and leaned back, her gaze returning to the stars above.
"My goal? For Celestia to be happy. That's all."
"That's a simple goal," I pointed out.
"Simple, but it takes a long time to achieve. Happiness is not hard to experience, it’s hard to maintain. You can be happy one day and sad the next. I know Celestia won't be happy every day, but my goal is to ensure she'll be in good hands before I go," Sia explained.
"Go, Bru?" I questioned. "Where are you going?"
Sia glanced my way before leaning in to rub my cheek with her left cheek. "Nowhere. I'll be here for as long as Celestia needs me."
"I need Sia too," I pointed out.
Sometimes I forgot they were the same person and typically focused on Celestia, but I loved Sia too and didn't want her feeling left out or lonely.
"Arielle, you're truly a sweetheart," Sia praised. "I'm glad we have you as a familiar."
"I'm happy to have you two as my Mistress! Well, uh one, Bru," I cheered and corrected.
"Let's aim for Aslan and happiness, Arielle. Then, when you're old enough, love," Sia encouraged.
"BRU-REE! Aslan, happiness, love!" I agreed. She lifted her hand to stroke my head once more before we turned our attention to the stars above, thinking about the future we aimed to achieve.
One day my Mistress and I will get into Aslan Academy, gain happiness, and find boyfriends who'll love us. That's the future I wished for.
~TEN YEARS LATER~
"Today’s the day, Mother. I'm really excited, but I'm kinda nervous. I don't want to screw up or bring Celestia down. I'm confident in our years of training though. I guess it's that little voice in my head that's telling me I'm not powerful enough to protect her. Probably stupid thoughts, and I bet Aaron and Alec are laughing at me. Hope you guys are well. You can let Father know I don't have a boyfriend yet. I'll work hard and won't give up. I'll keep working towards my goals with Celestia. I hope you’re okay too, Mary. I'll miss all of you, but when I come back, I'll bring some shiny buttons and coins. I promise, Bru."
I looked down at the set of graves before shifting my gaze up to the sky, the sun beginning its rise as the day was just getting started.
Today was the day we'd be going to Aslan Academy. It was a surprise to Celestia and me when we got the letter in the mail. She'd applied to prove a point to Magnor after one of their disagreements, but neither of us expected her to get in on the first try.
The school was known for its difficult admission process, looking at your magic scores and other assessments conducted that we honestly had no clue about.
Aside from the rumors, all we knew was only an average of 10-20% of shifters got in after the entrance and practical exams.
I was pleased when Magnor read through the letter and details, confirming that familiars were allowed. I wasn't going to let Celestia leave me behind, especially when there was a risk of her getting into dangerous situations.
We were heading out in a few hours, but I wanted to spend some time and be with my family before the journey.
My ears picked up on the sound of footsteps on the grass, but I didn't turn to see who it was. The scent that drifted on the morning breeze reminded me of a meadow, which told me right away it was Magnor.
"Saying goodbye?" Magnor asked.
"Yes. I didn't want them thinking I forgot about them," I replied, attempting to rid myself of what Celestia called my phoenix accent. I didn't mean to add ‘Bru’ to most of my sentences, it was just the way I talked.
However, I wanted to alter that, especially after Sia had changed me into a human for the first time. It was a weird experience, to say the least, though it took a major toll on her.
I figured once Celestia woke up, she would have to do what Sia called a recap, which involved Celestia looking through her previous memories that occurred while she was sleeping. It was pretty cool, but Sia did say it was limited to what she or Celestia wanted to share.
Just remembering the scenario brought a smile to my face.
* * *
"Are we there yet, Bru-ree?"
"I'm working on it," Sia replied, her eyes making their way down the page of instructions for the fortieth time.
We were in the forest where Sia, Magnor, and I trained almost every night. I sat on a branch nearby, watching impatiently as Sia read the instructions on how to change a familiar to human.
The instructions weren't hard, but it depended on the individual who was casting the spell. Their magic level, mental concentration, and imagination determined what the end result would be.
Sia was pretty confident, but she said anything that involved me had her being extra cautious. She didn't want to change me into something she couldn't reverse.
Sia looked up at me, which was a sign that she was ready. I hopped off the branch and settled down on the ground. I figured if I was going to be changed into a human, I couldn't be just flying around in the air.
"You ready? This could potentially go horribly wrong like the other attempts, but I'll try to spare a little magic and get Magnor to change you back if it doesn't work. Deal?" she asked.
"YES, BRU-REE!" I cheered. I couldn't be more excited about this attempt. It felt like it would be successful, giving me a boost of motivation and confidence.
Sia grinned and knelt down to stroke my head. "You know, you've been more than just a familiar to Celestia and me. We love you as our family. You’re the best friend we always wished to have. Even if this thing works, you won't stay in your human familiar form for long, but I know that Celestia and I will work twice as hard to get stronger. Then maybe one day you can stay in that form and mingle with us whenever you want," she explained.
I eyed her carefully, taking in her words of love. After everything we'd been through over the years, from vigorous training to long nights studying to be stronger, it felt like it was finally going to be worth it. Our goal was in sight.
"I love you, Bru," I hummed softly.
"I love you more. Never leave us, okay?" Sia whispered.
I puffed my chest and fluttered my wings in annoyance. I'd never leave you!
Sia laughed. "Yes, I know you'll never leave me. C'mon, let’s get this over with."
She rose up and moved back to give me some space. Given the last attempt, which resulted in me becoming an elephant triple her size, I figured she didn't want to almost get squished again if the spell went south.
I watched as Sia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I knew she needed to go into deep concentration to harvest her magic, and it was even harder when you had to summon the magic from your core.
The wind began to pick up, which was a normal occurrence, but as the seconds passed it got stronger and stronger, causing me to worry.
My body began to grow hot, hotter than I'd ever felt it, and I chirped to try and get Sia's attention, but she was focused on the spell. She gritted her teeth, and I could see beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
She spread out her fingers and shouted, "CHANGEANDO ROSOLO F
REE!"
A bright light engulfed my vision, and I felt my body change. It was hard to describe, feeling myself hopping on the ground one minute and standing on solid ground the next, but it wasn't with my golden talons; it was with two feet.
I opened my eyes and looked down at myself. My eyes landed on my feet first before I slowly lifted my wings but was greeted by my spread out hands. I'm...human. A real human.
Everything felt so different, but my body felt energized with magic, and my senses were still heightened like when I was in phoenix form. The rich soil and bits of grass felt wondrous under my human feet that spread on the surface versus my talons that would dig into the ground for support.
The wind that was wildly flowing around us calmed, the remnants brushing against the little hairs of my arms, giving me goosebumps.
My curly hair was a strawberry pink that shifted to a teal color, making me wonder what my face looked like.
I realized how quiet it suddenly was and lifted my head in time to see Sia fall forward, her eyes rolling back. I rushed forward and caught her with ease. She took a deep breath, and I sighed in relief.
"You said you'd save some energy, idiot," I huffed.
The sound of my voice startled me for a minute, the high pitched tone was harsh but held a level of tenderness; I hoped Sia realized it was because I was worried about her.
I lowered her to the ground with ease before resting her head on my lap. She let out a weak giggle and opened her eyes to meet mine.
"Admit it. I'm awesome," Sia voiced.
I rolled my eyes at her attempt to make the situation more humorous, but I couldn’t hide the worry that crept into my gaze.
"I should get you to Magnor. You’re pale as a sheet. We have school tomorrow," I reminded her.
She gave a slight shrug. "Don't care. It worked. Celestia will be proud." She closed her eyes when she was finished speaking.
"Yup. Total idiot," I commented. Even though I was worried about her, I was having a difficult time hiding my happiness.
After years of trying over and over again, to finally be able to accomplish our little goal of me becoming human right before our journey to Aslan filled my heart with immense joy.
"I figured you'd be the type to say the opposite of what you felt," she mumbled with a broad smile. I felt my cheeks grow hot at her statement, embarrassed at how easy it was for her to read how I felt without even looking at me.
She opened her eyes to see my flushed cheeks and stunned expression. "You're...ugh. Just be quiet and stay here," I instructed. She closed her eyes again, and I frowned at her pale complexion.
"Not like I can walk anyway. I'll be good," she replied, her voice barely audible.
I pondered about what I should do. By the time I get Magnor and we rush back, she could get worse. Plus, there could be wolves or other animals lurking around. It's not safe enough to leave her here in this state.
With our past attempts, I wasn't as worried because Sia at least had enough energy to defend herself if I left to get Magnor or if she went to get him due to the wrong spell. In this case, the more time I wasted, the weaker Sia could get, and we had to be careful with bothering Celestia.
Tomorrow was the day we went to Aslan, and Celestia needed to be in top shape instead of feeling drowsy and weak because of our magic stunt.
I lifted her head up and lowered it to the ground before I scooped her up into my arms with little effort. As her head rested against my chest, I picked up on her deep inhale.
My body told me she was using her sense of smell to determine who held her, but I felt a wave of confusion hit me.
"Arielle?" she mumbled.
"It makes no sense for me to fly and get him if I can just take you home. I'll try not to use any more magic, just rest up, Sia," I explained.
My words were enough to reassure her as she relaxed in my hold, the tension leaving her shoulders. "Cool."
With her response, I took a calming breath and summoned the flame within me like I would as a phoenix. It came to me easily, and I felt my flaming wings spread out from my back.
I pushed off the ground and we were in the air, the cool night breeze brushing my face and blowing my hair as I flew towards our home. During the silent flight, I pondered about all the things I could do as a human.
I knew that once we were at Aslan, we wouldn't have much time for me to play around and figure this human thing out, but at least it was an option. Maybe one day I'd be able to fight against any shifters who tried to mess with my Mistress.
Either way, I was happy because this meant our bond as Mistress and familiar was getting stronger. With time and practice, maybe I'd be able to stay as a human for longer periods.
"Sia?" I whispered.
I felt her stir in my hold, and I had a hunch it wouldn't be long before she fell asleep. I just wanted her to know how much I appreciated all the effort she took to make this moment possible. It made me proud for both Sia and Celestia, knowing this was the beginning of another milestone we would achieve and accomplish.
"Thank you."
* * *
"How are you feeling?" Magnor asked.
"Regarding the fact that we're going to Aslan in a few hours, or that Sia changed me to a human?" I asked.
"Both?" he answered, the word tilted up in a question. I flew into the air and Magnor lifted his hand, allowing me to use it as a platform.
"Nervous, excited, tired, really happy...scared?" I replied. "The human experience was amazing and makes me wonder about all the possibilities. But, I’m scared that it'll drain Celestia and Sia. They've gotten stronger, but their imbalance will be a problem. As for Aslan, I'm not very worried. Celestia is strong. Now with the beads and her dual swords, I'm confident in both Celestia and Sia to be able to fight with ease. I'll be there as well, so nothing to worry about."
"I trust in what Celestia and Sia can do. I know that they'll be fine. I also feel you two will be part of a good team who'll make sure Celestia is okay if she does need assistance. Aslan is unpredictable, but I have faith in both of you. You've worked hard to get to this point. I have no doubt my assumptions will prove true," he replied.
"Always have so much belief in our abilities," I huffed.
"I trained you and Celestia. I'm allowed to be overconfident in my best student and familiar."
"You treat her more like a daughter than student you know," I pointed out. Magnor cleared his throat, and his cheeks grew red as he glanced away.
"Do not."
"Do too," I argued back.
"You're persistent like Celestia, so I won't bother arguing," Magnor groaned. I chirped happily, enjoying his embarrassed expression.
I loved teasing Magnor, especially when Celestia wasn't around. I could get the most interesting expressions out of him, which was rare in any other circumstance.
"You're going to miss us, aren't you?" I asked.
He took a deep breath and nodded. "A little."
"Don't cry when we leave," I teased.
"I won't cry," he grumbled.
"Uh huh," I replied. "We'll miss you too."
Magnor grinned, his silver eyes displaying his pride. "Always be true to yourself, Arielle. Never give up and don't be afraid of exploring."
I nodded my head in agreement and he continued. "No matter what happens at Aslan, stick with Celestia, at least when you’re allowed to be present. Once she has a good team that you also approve of, you can be more at ease."
"Okay, Bru!" I beamed. He lowered his head and pressed it against my little one.
"I love you, Arielle. I'll make sure to save any shiny buttons I find on my explorations," Magnor whispered.
"I love you too, Magnor. Thank you for being like a father to Celestia and me. We won't let you down."
He gave me a quick kiss on my forehead and lifted his head to look at the sky. "Want to watch the rest of the sunrise with me?"
"Yes!" I replied happily and flew off his hand to land on his shoulder. We watched the su
nrise in comfortable silence as I stood tall on his shoulder.
Aslan Academy. We'd waited for this opportunity, and I knew we were going to make it through the entrance exams. No matter what challenges awaited us.
My Mistress will become a Huntress, and I'll assist her every step of the way.
~FIFTEEN WEEKS LATER~
"Celestia! Wake up!"
Huh, Celestia? I peeked open an eye and noticed Hunter's wide eyes, which left me confused as I tried to shake off my tiredness. I glanced at Celestia who looked just as confused, her weak eyes barely staying open.
"Hun...ter?" she asked as her eyes began to close. Hunter placed his hands on her shoulders, shaking her slightly.
"Don't go back to sleep, Celestia. Orion told me to ask you what you saw," Hunter insisted. Celestia scrunched her face in confusion.
"C'mon, Cutie Pie. Tell me what you just saw,” Hunter whispered, brushing his hand against her cheek.
I flew from the pillow to move closer. I didn't like the worry in Hunter's eyes or the waves of exhaustion that hit me, the source coming from Celestia who appeared as if she struggled to stay awake.
"Darkness. Singing. A man was there. Eyes pure white. Wants me to be queen. I didn't want to be. Cold...afraid...wrist glow...markings..." she trailed off and her eyes closed.
"Celestia, Bru?!" I chirped but didn't get an answer. Hunter quickly held her weight as Celestia leaned to the side.
"Fuck..." Hunter cursed. He swiftly lowered Celestia back against the pillows before placing his hand on her forehead. I wondered if Celestia had a fever, but Hunter looked conflicted as he moved his hand to her cheeks, and then down to her neck.
"What's wrong, Bru?" I asked.
Hunter stared at me, clearly not understanding what I asked with my familiar tone but answered. "You know Celestia's been having weird dreams lately."
"Bru." I nodded in understanding, hoping he'd continue.
"Orion has a theory, but he wanted to know what Celestia has been dreaming about. I thought maybe she was coming down with something, but her body is cold. Like, really cold," Hunter commented.
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